I posted this under a separate thread but then decided it probably deserved a topic of its own as other people may have had similar experiences.
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One risk of staying in hostel dorm rooms are the snorers. It’s a minority of people but when you get one in your room it’s a truly god-awful experience as some of them are super LOUD. It’s like someone repeatedly trying to start a motorcycle a few feet away, all night long. This only happens once in a while, but if you encounter this you will not get a wink of sleep unless you are one of those people who can sleep through anything.

Granted, an extreme hostel snoring experience doesn’t happen all the time. It is definitely more the exception than the rule. But it happens often enough to try to take some measures against it. I’ve spent several sleepless nights in hostels all because of an extreme snorer in the same room. By the time you discover this the front desk is usually closed and there is no chance to switch rooms.

Because of this, I suggest getting a private room whenever possible (but this increases your costs considerably if you are a single traveler). You should also consider taking a set of earplugs. If you are really sensitive to noise, you could also get a white noise generator, made for travel. These can effectively cut out most background noise, allowing you to get some sleep. —> travel sound conditioner.

According to a study, “Loud snoring is a key symptom of sleep apnea, a major sleep disorder that often goes undiagnosed.” Sleep apnea sometimes produces extreme daytime sleepiness that can make it hazardous for a person to operate a vehicle. There is also increased risk of high blood pressure, stroke, etc. There are several effective treatments for snoring nowadays but it’s may be difficult to inform a stranger in a hostel that they snore excessively and this is quite bad for their health and they would be well advised to to see a specialist.